Fitness Revamp

Getting older sucks.Permalink

The last few years have not been easy on my body. I came into my mid-40s a svelte 165lbs with a resting heart rate in the upper-40s to low-50s. If things don’t change, I’ll be exiting my 40s in the mid-180lbs and a resting rate in the low-70s

It’s been uncertain times. The next step in my career didn’t work out. COVID. An unstable thyroid condition. Multiple jobs that either had no advancement, unreasonable expectations, or both. It was not the relatively stable of 40 hours a week, with two days off back to back, that I’d enjoyed from ages 20-45.

Upcoming ChangePermalink

The next few months will bring lots of change and hopefully more stability. Preparing for that, I’m revamping my firtness regimen. It’s been inconsistent, with some weeks clocking 35+ miles and a couple lift sessions, followed by weeks not even in the teens and no visits to the gym.

It’ll be an ongoing project, probably 4-6 months of serious work before changing it again.

The Goals:Permalink

• Rebuild stamina & speed
• Increase strength & power
• Eat right
• Drink plenty of water
• Sleep

Very boring. Very conventional.

The Plan of AttackPermalink

The POA is old school and simple. That might be the most controversial aspect of this plan—it is thoroughly not cutting edge.

Running will be focused on two workouts (speed and hills), a long run, and a few easy runs, all properly fueled. Strength and power will be based on either New Functional Training for Sports or Tactical Barbell Eating will be conventional—no food or macro exclusions, no fasting. Overall nutrition will be guided by Kylee Van Horn’s Practical Fueling for Endurance Sports Drinking water, plenty of it, mostly from the tap. Sleeping will be the biggest challenge, but the new bedroom is on the west side of the house and tends to be a cave.

MetricsPermalink

To measure progress, aside from the main goal of subjectively feeling faster and stronger, I’ll take some objective measurements. I take a daily HRV/resting HR measurement via the HRV4Training app, with trends providing some feedback. I’ll be weighting myself and measuring waist, thighs, and biceps once a week. Plus the more important metrics of weights and average mile/min.

Starting PointPermalink